Visitors can explore the open landscape by taking a ferry from Port Askaig and cycling or driving around the A846 which offers . The Harbour Inn in Bowmore is a lovely, modern Scottish hotel which is centrally located near Bowmore Harbour and serves excellent food. This will allow you to reach locations which are not served by bus and to treat yourself to a healthy dose of fresh, island air while youre at it! Here is an overview of experiences on Islay, however I have covered these all in much more detail in my blog full of suggestions for things to do when visiting Islay. This website includes affiliate links to Booking.com and GetYourGuide. The bikes can be picked up in Port Ellen or delivered to your location of choice for 10 (free for 3 bikes or more) and they cost 30 per day. Excellent lunches can be enjoyed in the Old Kiln Cafe at, There are a number of options where to stay on Islay, from the luxurious to the budget option. Traffic on Islay is light, as it usually is on islands, and getting used to the 'wrong' side of the road is remarkably easy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If you're looking for Scottish travel inspiration, you're in the right place. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Managed a day trip to Colonsay. Islay is absolutely doable on public transport for visitors who, like me, dont drive or for those who just dont want to: drinking whisky and driving is not a good mix. Why do people wave at me when I'm driving on Islay? The answer is yes to both. Bruichladdich - founded in 1881, re-opened in 2000. Theres a reason why this island has the nickname Queen of the Hebrides, and its nothing to do with Isle of Islay whisky. Lots of intersting geology as well, There is never enough time to do everything so I keep going back. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Oh, and a good 2000 miles to the west you'll end up in Newfoundland and Labrador on the other side of the Atlantic. Follow him on Pinterest and YouTube. Ro-Ro & Drive Through Ferries. There are two bus routes on Islay, both of which using the main roads on the island. The only island that is connected to the Scottish mainland by a bridge is the . CalMac Ferries (0800 066 5000) serves many of the islands in the Inner Hebrides, including Coll, Mull, Islay and others. Isle of Jura: Complete Visitor Guide | Out About Scotland Multiply this time with 60 mph average speed to get the distance traveled: 60 6.5 = 390 miles. The distance between Glasgow and Islay is approximately 140 miles, which means that the drive will take around 3-4 hours depending on traffic and weather conditions. Your email address will not be published. The distilleries, which are open year-round, each have their own unique stories, tours and traditions. The eight existing ones are (in alphabetical order): In addition to the distilleries on Islay there is also the. The distinctive yellow and blue Citylink buses will take you from Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station to Kennacraig ferry terminal in 3-3.5 hours, enroute to Campbeltown. I usually use HomeAway.co.uk as they tend to have nicer homes than AirBnB and their prices are just that wee bit more reasonable, but their selection is also more limited, so theyve both got their pros and cons. Cycling round the island to see Islays nature and wildlife up close is ideal, not least due to the largely flat terrain and the low level of traffic on the island. You can view the bus timetable here. There is an infrequent ferry service from Oban to Port Askaig if you are travelling to/from this direction or if you plan to extend your adventure and do more island hopping from Oban. Port Ellen to Port Askaig: 19 miles, approx 30 minutes.Port Ellen to Portnahaven: 26 miles, approx 40 minutes.Bowmore to Port Askaig: 11 miles, approx 20 minutes.Bowmore to Sanaigmore: 13 miles, approx 30 minutes. But with a week, you can pick a day when the weather is decent.. You really get the feeling you are away from the world. all winter) as flights get frequently cancelled without much notice. This journey should take about two and a half to three hours, depending on the amount of stops, and is a very scenic drive. The bus stops near the ferry ports in Port Ellen and Port Askaig, and directly outside Islay Airport. The bus service runs between 7am and 6pm Monday to Saturday, but not on Sunday. The buses only run until the evening, so if you are relying on public transport and would like to venture out for dinner and drinks, it would be worth basing yourself in or around one of the main towns, Bowmore or Port Ellen. Islay is accessible by flight or ferry, and it is possible to reach the island entirely on public transport. I do it the opposite way to you Mary Beth when we are in Spain. Manage Settings In any case Islay is the anglicised spelling, the Gaelic version is Ile. Are there banks or cash machines (ATMs) on Islay? Also keep in mind that farm animals might slow you down on almost any road on Islay. They all offer a great experience, so you really cant go wrong. The Isle of Islay on Scotlands west coast is one of the countrys premier tourist destinations, and not just for its whisky distilleries. How long drive is it to Glasgow to Islay? - Glasgow Eyes Magazine Islay Ferry - The Complete Guide on Ferry Travel to Islay Distillery visiting is our primary goal, including Jura. The largest shop on Islay is the Co-Op in Bowmore. Quite a few old ruins up north past Gruinart. Glenegedale House (my favourite place to stay on Islay) is a 5*, multi-award winning guesthouse which serves sharing boards on whisky barrel tops and Laphroaig with your breakfast porridge. With only three days to spend and 8 distilleries to visit (7 on Islay and 1 on Jura) it's going to be a rushed few days. There are a dozen or so crossings each day between Port Askaig and Feolin on Jura; the crossing only takes 10 minutes.